High-speed imaging stage

Abstract

The high-speed imaging stage of the present invention contains a holding holding such as a prismatic rotating body or an endless belt that can rotate or move at high speed and that is loaded with a plurality of recording materials such as stimulable phosphor sheets and X-ray film. The holding device transfers the recording materials successively by continuously performing intermittent fast moving operations in such a way that a recording material can rest temporarily in the imaging position beneath an imaging window while holding the recording materials in position, whereby the radiation image of a subject can be recorded on the recording materials. Therefore, this high-speed imaging stage has a simple construction and is capable of performing high-speed and continuous imaging on the recording materials without causing damage to them even if they are not placed within protective cases.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A high-speed imaging stage comprising: a bed having an image window formed therein at a position corresponding to an image site of a subject, said image window being adapted to allow radiation that has penetrated a subject to pass therethrough;   a polygonal holding device rotationally mounted about an axis thereof;   a frame provided on each side of said holding device, said frame having an open portion through which a recording material may be inserted into said frame so as to removably fix a recording material to said sides of said holding device;   an engagement device configured so as to selectively obstruct said open portion so as to hold the recording material in said frame when said engagement device is in a first position and to allow a recording material to freely pass through said open portion when said engagement device is in a second position;   means for intermittently rotating said holding device about said axis so as to cause each of said frames to be successively positioned in opposition to a loading position at said image window whereby a radiation image of the subject can be recorded on the recording materials, and an unloading position;   a supply device, operatively coupled to said engagement device so as to operate in concert therewith, disposed opposite the frame which is in the loading position so as to insert a recording material therein through said one portion of said frame;   an accommodating device, operatively coupled to said engagement device so as to operate in concert therewith, disposed opposite the frame which is in the unloading position so as to detach the recording material contained therein, through said open portion of said frame, to a receiving container after an image has been recorded thereon,   a controller coupled to said rotating means so as to selectively cause said holding device to rotate at a first speed or at a second speed, which is slower than said first speed;   said controller causing said holding device to intermittently rotate at said second speed, while simultaneously activating said supply device and causing said engagement device to assume said second position, so as to insert said recording materials into said frames while holding device intermittently rotates;   said controller causing said holding device to intermittently rotate at said first speed, while causing said engagement device to assume said first position, so as to record a radiation image of the subject on the recording materials while said holding device intermittently rotates; and   said controller causing said holding device to intermittently rotate at said second speed after a desired number of said recording materials have had a radiation image recorded thereon, while simultaneously activating said accommodating device, and causing said engagement device to assume said second position, so as to detach said recording materials and transfer them to said receiving container while said holding device intermittently rotates.   
     
     
       2. A high-speed imaging stage according to claim 1 wherein said holding device is moveable with respect to said imaging window in such a way that, when imaging is to be performed, said holding device is moved so as to reduce the distance between the recording material to be imaged and said imaging window. 
     
     
       3. A high-speed imaging stage comprising: a bed having an image window formed therein at a position corresponding to an image site of a subject, said image window being adapted to allow radiation that has penetrated the subject to pass therethrough;   a polygonal holding device rotationally mounted about an axis thereof;   a frame provided on each side of said holding device, said frames having an open portion through which a recording material may be inserted into said frames so as to removably fix the recording material to said sides of said holding device;   an engagement device configured so as to selectively obstruct said open portion so as to hold the recording material in said frame when said engagement device is in a first position and to allow the recording material to freely pass through said open portion when said engagement device is in a second position;   means for intermittently rotating said holding device about said axis so as to cause each of said frames to be successively positioned in opposition to a loading position at said image window whereby a radiation image of the subject can be recorded on the recording materials, and an unloading position;   a supply device, operatively coupled to said engagement device so as to operate in concert therewith, disposed opposite the frame which is in the loading position so as to insert a recording material therein through said open portion of said frame; and   an accommodating device, operatively coupled to said engagement device so as to operate in concert therewith, disposed opposite the frame which is in the unloading position so as to detach the recording material contained therein and transfer it through said open portion of said frame, to a receiving container after an image has been recorded thereon.   
     
     
       4. A high-speed imaging stage according to claim 3 wherein said holding device is moveable with respect to said imaging window in such a way that, when imaging is to be performed, said holding device is moved so as to reduce the distance between the recording material to be imaged and said imaging window.